Cavaliers introduce 19-year-old Russian Sergey Karasev

The first thing one notices about Cavaliers draft pick Sergey Karasev is his deadeye shooting.

However, that might change.

"Sergey doesn't want to be known as a shooter," Cavs vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said. "He wants to be known as a shot-maker. He said anyone can be a shooter.

"We hope he gets to the point where he makes shots at the NBA level. His trajectory fits us very well for the long term."

Karasev, a 19-year-old Russian swingman, was introduced to the media on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. He was the 19th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

The 6-foot-7, 200-pounder has yet to sign his NBA contract.

Griffin said Karasev's Russian team, BC Triumph Lyubertsy, has granted the release of his contract.

"Hopefully, by the end of the week, we'll get the contract done," Karasev said.

His father, Vasily, is the coach of the Russian Senior National team, which will play in the EuroBasket in Slovenia from Sept. 4-22.

"That's great that my father is the coach of the national team," Karasev said. "These last few years, we've grown up together. I'll try to help him, and he'll try to help me. Hopefully, we'll take medals at the World Championships."

Karasev is in Cleveland to get acclimated to life in the United States. The Cavs took him to the popular restaurant, Melt, on Monday for lunch.

He's expected to return in late September and be ready for the start of training camp.

Karasev already knows the score with Mike Brown.

"I know he's a defensive coach," he said. "I want to bring some weakside help, some one-on-one defense and play aggressive defense. I hope I enjoy this time with Mike Brown."

He said he's capable of getting minutes at both shooting guard and small forward.

"I think I can play both positions," he said. "It depends on where the coach puts me on the court.

"Everyone knows shooting is the best part of my game. (I have) court vision, (can) create for my teammates and get a lot of assists. I want to work hard on the physical (part of it). I hope to help the team this year."

He said he was very excited when he heard his name called during the June 27 NBA draft.

"It was wonderful," he said. "For me, when I was young, it was a dream to play in the NBA. When I heard Cleveland Cavaliers took me, I was excited."

Karasev, who will wear No. 10, said he currently weighs about 200 pounds.

"I play in the Russian league," he said. "It's a really tough league. There are a lot of athletic guys. I need (to add) a couple more pounds.

"It's a way different game than Europe. I'm going to feel it. I'm not a stupid guy. I understand the game. I think I can (earn) minutes (in Coach Brown's rotation)."

He said he models his game after Spurs swingman Manu Ginobili.

"He has a great shot, a great mind and can do everything on the court," Karasev said.

Griffin said Karasev might resemble a "19-year-old Ginobili."

Griffin, Cavs general manager Chris Grant's right-hand man, said the Cavs' scouting department was very beneficial in the Karasev selection.

"We got to scout him at every step along the path of his development," he said. "We got to send multiple scouts to Europe to watch him play."

In the just-completed World University Games, he averaged 19 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 24.9 minutes per game. He was the MVP.

"Throughout that (draft) process, what got us excited was his skill set," Griffin said. "His basketball IQ is excellent. He's a very accomplished young player. To lead the Russian league in scoring at the age he did is unprecedented.

"We look at him as a kid with tremendous upside. He certainly has a lot of room to grow and evolve. His skill set really spoke to us."

It's Brown who will decide how many minutes -- if any -- Karasev will play in 2013-14.

"I wouldn't want to limit that in any way," Griffin said. "I wouldn't want to raise false expectations. He's going to learn Mike Brown's system very quickly. He has a high IQ. He has a skill set that fits our team. Based on the other signings we've made, we're much deeper. There will be great competition. "

Quick shots

-- The Cavs are looking for a head coach for their National Basketball Development League team in Canton.

"Mike Gansey, Chris (Grant) and me will get together following USA basketball," Griffin said.

He said the entire coaching staff needs to be replaced. Griffin said it wasn't a shock Canton coach Alex Jensen joined the Utah Jazz as director of player development.

"It was expected," Griffin said. "He was very well respected in the D-League."

-- Griffin said he's impressed with the coaching staff Brown has put together.

"He has a tremendous development staff," he said. "We have a group in place that is as strong as I've seen."

Phil Handy and Vitaly Potapenko are the development coaches.

"(It's important), especially with a kid (Karasev's) age," Griffin said. "It's exciting to get them to take the next step."